Pearson favors upgrades for BMV

September 20, 2006|JAMES WENSITS Tribune Political Writer

SOUTH BEND -- Democratic Secretary of State candidate Joe Pearson has a timely idea for improving state Bureau of Motor Vehicle branches. "I'll put the clocks back," he quipped, referring to the controversial decision under the current administration to remove bureau timepieces. Pearson stopped Tuesday in South Bend during a daylong campaign visit to northern Indiana that also took him to Logansport, Peru, Rochester and Plymouth. The Blackford County Democrat, a nephew of one-time Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wayne Townsend, said he supports a proposal to put the BMV under the Secretary of State's Office, a move that he said will require bipartisan support from the Indiana General Assembly. Pearson laid out a plan for improving the BMV that includes more accountability, better use of technology and improved customer service. One change, Pearson said, might be to install kiosks in each branch that would allow Hoosiers to simulate home computer transactions and speed up the process. He also suggested merging BMV and state election records in an effort to save money and to protect Hoosiers from identity theft. Pearson said he believes Indiana communities need to have some say as to where BMV branches are located and promised to consider the possibility of reopening some branches that have been closed.